Conor McGregor open to fight Ferguson or Pettis if Khabib Nurmagomedov pulls out of UFC 229

Conor McGregor admitted that he lost his love for the fight game at some point during his two-year hiatus, but he is adamant that the hunger is back ahead of this weekend’s clash with Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Recently, Owen Roddy told the Eurobash podcast that the Russian’s history with weight cutting is a concern for Team McGregor ahead of the lightweight title fight.

McGregor seems to share the worry about Nurmagomedov’s battle with the scales and claimed when his camp initially got underway he had no interest in taking a replacement fight if “The Eagle” somehow didn’t make it to the Octagon on Oct. 6.

“I’ve already been mapping out what I want to do next,” McGregor told The Mac Life.

“I know Pettis and Ferguson is in the co-main. Originally, about a month or two ago when that fight got announced for the co-main, I was like, ‘Man, if Khabib bottles this fight, like he has bottled many fights before…if he bottles this one I don’t think…you know…f*ck those other two’. No disrespect to those other two…I don’t think I give a f*ck about those other two to step in and [fight]. I think I probably would have just disappeared back into the shadows and got that man [Nurmagomedov] somewhere else outside of here.”

As the Irishman continued, he outlined why he now thinks he would take on either Anthony Pettisor Tony Ferguson — who clash in the co-main event — should Nurmagomedov pull out. He also claimed that bouts with Dustin Poirier, Nate Diaz, Tyron Woodley and Georges St-Pierre are all on his radar at the moment.

“Now that I’m here, I’m back and I’m close, if he didn’t show up. I think I would take a fight against either of those,” he said.

“I’m already mapping out what’s happening next in my head. I know Dustin and Nate [are] competing. I know the 170-pound belt has also just been defended and I know Tyron [Woodley], the current welterweight champion, is itching for that one — like they all f*cking are. I know Georges is test cutting to 155. I know everyone is around looking for it. I’m here, let’s see what happens next.”